Bricklayers

The Operative Society of Bricklayers was formed in the late 1820s or early 1830s. In 1848 divisions led to a split into two separate unions: the London Order of Operative Bricklayers' Society (soon after renamed the Operative Bricklayers' Society) and the Manchester Unity of Operative Bricklayers' Society. In 1921 these two societies reunited when they amalgamated with the Operative Society of Masons, Quarrymen and Allied Trades of England and Wales to form the Amalgamated Union of Building Trade Workers. Since 1971 this has been the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians (UCATT).

The sources below are those of the above union identified as being of potential interest to genealogists. If you have established a person's membership of a trade union and their period of membership, and also have the relevant information outlined below, it may be worth searching these records for further information. Please note that without all the information listed as required, Modern Records Centre staff are unable to conduct a search.

Operative Bricklayers' Society (MSS.78/OB)

The Society initially had branches throughout England and South Wales. In the 1890s it started to expand into North Wales and Scotland, and in the 1900s it also started opening branches in Ireland.